teze/i-

This lexeme is attested on various Lycian sepulchral inscriptions, as well as on TL 44, the pillar of Xanthos, dated stylistically to around 400 BCE and contextually to shortly after the ascension of the Persian emperor Artaxerxes II in 405-404 BCE (Borchhardt & Eichner 1997-1999a:19f.).

[O.B.]

acc. sg.	tezi	TL 78.1 (Tyssa)
	tṭ[e]zi	N 332.1 (Korba)
	τezi	TL 72 (Kyana)
dat./loc. sg.	tezi	TL 44a.25 (Xanthos)
		TL 88.3 (Myra)
		N 356a.3 (Tlos)
unclear	tezi	TL 44b.41 (Xanthos)

The syntactic function of tezi on TL 44b.41 is not clear (given as “unclear” also in DLL:64 and Neumann 2007a:355). Meriggi 1937a:513 suggests restoring a dat./loc. sg. tez[i at TL 44c.18, which is highly atttactive.

[O.B.]

The meaning ‘sarcophagus’ for Lyc. A teze/i- is often found in the literature since Thomsen 1899a:13 (e.g. in Pedersen 1945a:50, Neumann 1961a:52, Meriggi 1978c:245, Carruba 1978b:166, Borchhardt & Eichner 1997-1999a:50, DLL:64, Schürr & Dönmez 2015a:142, Seyer 2019a:263f.). This analysis is based on inscriptions on sarcophagi (i.e. TL 78, TL 72 and N 331), where the object bearing the inscription is itself referred to as the teze/i- (e.g. TL 78.1: ebẽñnẽ : tezi : m(e)=ene : prñnawatẽ : xuprija ‘this t., Xuprija built it’). Accordingly, at least one meaning for teze/i- is highly likely to be ‘sarcophagus’.

Neumann 2007a:355 assigns the more general meaning ‘monument’ to teze/i- on the basis of the Lycian-Greek bilingual text TL 72, where ebẽñnẽ : τezi corresponds to Greek τόδε τ[ὸ μνῆ]μα ‘this monument/memorial’. However, it is not absolutely necessary that the Greek term should correspond exactly, as a Lycian sarcophagus and a monument fulfill similar functions. Conversely, there are other convincing arguments why the semantic reach of tezi- is somewhat broader than denoting marble or limestone sarcophagi as found throughout Lycia. In TL 88.3, an inscription belonging to a rock tomb, the owner of the grave and his wife are stipulated to be put in a tezi (m(e)=ene ñtepi tãti ñtipa tezi se ladã ehbi ‘he and his wife will be placed inside a ñ. t.’). Borchhardt 2002a:35 remarks that a marble or limestone sarcophagus would not fit inside the rock tomb in question, and thus suggests that the meaning of teze/i- should be understood to also include wooden coffins (followed in Seyer 2019a:264f.).

[O.B.]

This lexeme is a common gender i-mutating noun, perhaps built with the suffix -ze/i- (< *-ti̯o-); outdated Pedersen 1945a:50.

[O.B.]

For an etymological comparison with Lat. quiēs ‘calm’, i.e. PIE *k^u̯ieh₁-, see Pedersen 1945a:50, but cf. PAnat. *zeh₁-/*zih₁- on the possible development of initial *k^u̯i̯- in Proto-Anatolian.

[O.B.]